New US Ambassador to Georgia Degnan sworn in

New US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, who has 25 years of diplomatic experience, has been sworn in, the US Embassy to Georgia has reported earlier today, stating that ‘we are looking forward to [her] arrival in Georgia.” 

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the US Under Secretary of State David Hale. 

The US Senate approved Degnan, a recipient of the Secretary of State’s Expeditionary Service Award, in December 2019. 

The US President Donald Trump presented Californian Degnan for the role in September 2019. 

The post has been vacant since March 2018.

Before the nomination to the post Degnan served as the political advisor to the Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe – United States Naval Forces Africa.

Previously, she was deputy chief of mission of the United States mission to Italy, deputy executive secretary of the Department of State, and Deputy Chief of mission of the United States Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo.

During her 25-year career, she has served as political counselor at the United States mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium, senior civilian representative to Brigade Combat Team Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan, and deputy political counselor at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

Trump’s administration says that she also served as a special assistant to the Secretary of State and to the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Department of State.

She speaks Italian, French, Turkish and Urdu.

Previous Ambassador Ian Kelly announced his retirement once his mission in Georgia concluded at the end of March 2018, bringing an end to his 33-year career.